NT’s new climate resilience plan lists gas project as top priority
- The Northern Territory government has released a climate resilience plan aimed at preparing communities and infrastructure for increasing climate risks such as extreme heat, flooding, and severe weather events.
- Critics argue the plan is undermined by the government’s continued support for gas development in the Beetaloo Basin, saying it conflicts with efforts to address climate change.
- Environmental groups and some stakeholders are calling for stronger emissions reduction commitments and greater alignment between climate policy and resource development decisions.
A new climate resilience plan released by the Northern Territory government has drawn fierce criticism from environment groups for prioritising the acceleration of gas extraction from the Beetaloo Basin.
The plan, released on Monday, is set out in a three-page document, which says the Northern Territory government is focused on “working with the Australian government on the national target of net zero by 2050”.
It outlines five “strategic priorities”, including delivering a “secure and reliable energy transition”, attracting investment and promoting emissions reduction.
One of those priorities includes a a plan to accelerate the production of “low emissions energy, including from the Beetaloo Sub-basin”, which the government says would “support long-term energy security for the Territory, Australia and our region and … deliver secure and reliable energy to Territorians at the lowest sustainable cost”.
Gas company clears final hurdle for fracking in the Beetaloo Basin
Major global oil and gas companies are expressing “serious interest” in the Beetaloo Basin for the first time, one analyst says, now that Beetaloo Energy has reached a final investment decision and committed to developing its fracking project.
The Beetaloo Basin gas field, about 500 …
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Original article and photo by "ABC News"
